Device to couple members of a heavy-duty machine

Abstract

A coupler system to facilitate carrying or operating a working tool is provided. For example, a boom frame is rotated about a master pin location to mate with a stick frame at a picker end and coupled to the stick frame with a latching or locking mechanism. The boom frame is further rotated about the master pin location to mate with the stick frame at a grabber end opposite the picker end coupled to the stick frame with an additional latching or locking mechanism. Static stresses are then pre-loaded onto a pulling mechanism which secures the boom frame to the stick frame to prevent failure and dynamic stresses are dispersed onto a compression mechanism to mitigate fatigue. Hydraulic fluid is passed between the boom frame and the stick frame to maintain cleanliness in a hydraulic valve environment while coupling the stick frame to the boom frame.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates generally to a coupling device and corresponding method of use in at least the construction and heavy equipment industries.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]An excavator is a construction vehicle used to facilitate work tool operations on various natural and man-made elements in our environment, to include such tasks as earth moving, demolition of structures, material handling, general grading / landscaping, forestry work, lifting and placing of pipes, mining, and river dredging. Excavators come in a wide range of sizes and capacities depending upon the type and general magnitude of the scheduled excavator task. The excavator incorporates three basic parts: a prime mover, a powerful boom arm, and a stick. The prime mover comprises a diesel engine that burns fuel to provide power for excavator operations. The boom arm is used to position the stick to which the work tool is attached. These components connect by means of a series o...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010]It is another object, feature, or advantage of the invention to efficiently couple a boom frame to a stick frame by optimizing subcomponent performance.

[0011]It is another object, feature, or advantage of the invention to enable the quick coupling and decoupling of coupling members on a boom and a stick having a tool.

[0012]It is still yet a further object, feature, or advantage of the invention to provide an adaptive coupler that couples a heavy-duty machine with a variety of working tools.

[0013]It is still yet a further object, feature, or advantage of the invention to provide a power coupling having coupling elements carried by the coupl...

Problems solved by technology

As the diversity and complexity of new construction operations expanded over time, demands on the utility of the excavator grew quickly as well.

Swapping work tools for an excavator involves removal and replacing of steel pins and the coupling/uncoupling of hydraulic lines, both of which are time consuming and potentially dangerous.

The requirement for increased excavator system numbers creates a downside impact on individual excavator efficiency and associated increase in job costs.

Although the concept significantly broadens versatility of the excavator, the third member location of the coupler mass does limit the size of viable work tools for construction jobs.

Increasing coupler size to accommodate larger work tools leads to excessive lo...

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